Game apparatus



l. H. ATHEY GAME APPARATUS May 3o, 1939.

Filed Aug. 20, 1938 5 sheets-sheet 1 ndex/Zn? May 3o, 1939. l, H; ATHEY2,160,451

GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 i' l @o May 30,1939. I l, H, ATHEY 2,160,451

GAME APPARATUS Filed Aug. 20, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 30,1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to game apparatus and more particularly to gameapparatus which may be equally well utilized indoors or outdoors andwhich has a wide appeal because the game to be 5 played therewith is oneof skill.

Bowling is a game of wide appeal that is of limited availability becauseof the initial cost of equipment and because of space requirements. .Itis not a parlor game, although attempts have been made to make it suchby provision of miniature sets of balls and pins. Miniature sets,however, have certain disadvantages that detract considerably from theenjoyment to be derived from their use. It is a primary purpose of myinvention to provide a game apparatus which, While it is somewhatsimilar to bowling, has been modiiied somewhat to render it readilyinstallable in homes and amusement places in general without, however,detracting either from the skill necessary to play the game or from theenjoyment of the players.

It is an object of my invention to provide a y game apparatus comprisinga set of bowling pins and a suspended ball which may be thrown at thepins by the player. The pins are set up relatively near each other andin a predetermined form, preferably a triangle Yhaving its apex towardthe bowler. There are four pins ordinarily in the rear or fourth row,three in the third row, two in 'the following, and one in the rownearest the player. The suspended ball is adapted to be thrown againstthe pins and, in order to knock down most pins, it is necessary. just asin bowling, that the ball hit the pocket between the head pin and eitherof the two pins in the adjoining row.

An object of my invention is so to arrange the ball suspension withrespect to the pins that the ball will not bounce over the remainingpins after 40.. it strikes one as it is thrown towards the balls from aposition in front thereof.

A more specific object of my invention is so to arrange the ballsuspension with respect to the pins that all the pins are adapted to bestruck at points somewhat below the maximum diameter portion of eitherthe heads or the main body portions of the pins, thereby to prevent theball from bouncing upward as it glances off of a pin.

A further object of my invention is to provide v the game apparatus witha combined baffle and ball retainer so arranged with respect to the ballsuspension as to prevent the ball from endangering anyone near the gameapparatus and at the same time prevent the ball from knocking down55,'pins on a rebound.

A further and more speciiic object of my invention is to obtain thedesired relationship between the pins and the ball by mounting the pinsupon a generally triangular plate at different elevations so that theyoccupy positions on a line 5I. that is arcuate in the direction oftravel of the ball.

Another more specific object of my invention is slidably to suspend theball from a generally downwardly and rearwardly extending support so 10that the ball is adapted to move not only fo-rwardly but also downwardlyas it strikes the baffle, whereby the ball is caught in a ball retainerlocated below the baffle when it moves downwardly under the force ofgravity. 15 'i Other objects and advantages of my invention will becomeapparent from the ensuing description, in the course of which referenceis had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the game ap- 20.* paratus of myinvention illustrating the manner in which the ball is held by theplayer preparatory to its being thrown toward the pins;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a modified form of the game apparatusillustrating in particular 25T@ the fact that the apparatus may be madein various sizes and for installation in various locales;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View taken along the line3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along 30y the line 4-4 ofFig. 1, with the pins removed better to illustrate the top of the novelpin supporting plate of my apparatus; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a further modication of myinvention in which the ball is 35iadapted to strike the pins below themaximum diameter portions of the bodies of the pins rather than theheads as in the previously illustrated modications.

Referring now to the drawings, it may be noted 40' that the apparatuscomprises a horizontally disposed open-top tray indicated by thereference numeral I, an upwardly extending open-front cabinet structurel 2 located at the rear end of the tray, a rigid supporting post i4extending up- 45k ward and slightly forward from the cabinet structure,and a ball I5 ilexibly suspended from the post in a manner to bedescribed fully hereinafter.

In the modiiication illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 50' 4, the tray I0 issupported at its front end upon a single hinged leg I6 locatedsubstantially centrally of the table and at its rear end upon a pair ofhinged legs I8 hinged to the under side of the tray. The tray support ismade relatively rigid by suitable braces indicated by referencecharacters 20 and 22 and further rigidity is obtained by means of crosspieces 24 and 26 bearing against the bottom of the tray and attached tothe legs for movement therewith, as best illustrated in Fig. 1.

The tray comprises a base 26 and side walls 36 which may be suitablyfinished in order to give the structure a pleasant appearance and whichare of a height to prevent the pins 3I supported therein from falling tothe floor as they are knocked down.

The cabinet is constructed of a pair of identical side panels 32, a rearpanel 34, and a relatively narrow apertured top 36 through which theball supporting post I4 enters. The post which, is preferably made of asquare piece of substantially rigid material, such as wood, is securelyheld in place by the apertured top 36 and a suitable receptacle 38fastened to the tray base 28.

A combined baille and ball retainer that forms an important feature ofmy invention and the functioning of which will be described in greaterdetail hereinafter, is supported from the side panels and top of thecabinet, The combined baille and ball retainer comprises a relativelyheavy, but flexible, fabric curtain-like piece 40 secured at its upperend to the top 36 by a fastening strip 42. At its opposite end thebaffle is secured to a cross bar 44 extending between and attached tothe side panels 32 by looping it around the bar, as clearly indicated inFig. 3. The length of the baflle is greater than the straight linedistance between the upper front edge of the cabinet and the cross barso as to define a pocket located below the baffle and the normalposition of the ball for receiving the ball, the pocket being indicatedby reference numeral 46.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, thebaille has been illustrated as being made of single ply materialsomewhat similar to material used in making awnings. This constructionmay be modified as the only prerequisite of the material is that it beflexible in order that the ball will not bounce back toward the throwerupon striking the baille. It follows therefore that the baille may bemade of multi-ply material and the material need not be a textilefabric.

Another salient feature of my invention is so to support the ball I5that is held in the ball retaining pocket 46 after each throw. Thearrangement for accomplishing this comprises mounting the ball at theend of a flexible support 52, preferably a light weight metal chain,which is, in turn, slidably mounted upon a support 54 extendingforwardly and upwardly from the upper end of post I4. The support is arodlike member made of a relatively heavy piece of metallic tubing suchas, for instance, 1%, inch pipe upon whichV the flexible chain isslidably mounted by a ring 56 having an internal diameter slightlygreater than the external diameter of the pipe. To prevent the ball fromsliding off the forward end, the support terminates in a knob 58 and toenable the ball readily to be brought back to its initial position,wherein it is indicated in solid lines in Fig. 1, a spherical ball 60isinterposed between the post and support. This ball provides arelatively wide surface against which the ring rests at one extreme ofits movement and from whence the chain can be returned to the front endof the support with ease. The sliding support 54 is so configured that-erence numeral 62.

the ring 56 starts to slide toward the post when the ball reaches aposition immediately in front of or just as it strikes the baffle.Consequently, when the ball strikes the baille, its forward movement isterminated and it is actuated downwardly by the force of gravity. Sincesupport 54 slopes downwardly toward the upper end of the post, the balland chain are both free to move downwardly. In order to prevent the ballfrom moving downwardly as soon as it is thrown, the forward end of thesupport 54 is made with a substantially horizontal portion indicated byref- 'I'he intermediate portion of the support, indicated by referencenumeral 64, slopes downwardly at an angle of about 15 degrees whereasthe rear portion, indicated by reference numeral 66, slopes downwardlyat an angle of about 30 degrees. Thus, as the ball starts to movedownwardly after striking the bafile, the portions 64 and 66 permit theball to fall into the pocket 46 at an increasing rate.

The support 54 extends forward from the post I4 at a distance such thatwhen the ball is freely suspended it lies substantially centrally of thepins in a transverse direction and intermediate the second and thirdrows, counting the rows from the front. This position of the ball isindicated in Figs, 2 and 3.

Another essential feature of my invention resides in so arranging thepins 3| that the ball is adapted to strike each pin slightly below themaximum diameter portion of the head, as illustrated particularly inFig. 1 or below the maximum diameter portion of the body of the pin aswill be described more fully hereinafter in connection with themodification of Fig. 5, thereby to prevent the ball from bouncing oversome pins after striking one. This feature is provided by a pin plate I0preferably, but not necessarily, made of a number of similar sections ofwood superposed upon one another with portions thereof in verticalalignment in such manner as to provide shoulders at different elevationsupon which the pins may be mounted. 'Ihe similar sections are preferablytriangular in form and have their apex defining portions in verticalalignment. More specifically, the pin plate comprises a generallytriangular bottom portion 12,

a somewhat shorter triangular portion 'I4 superposed thereon, a similarand smaller portion 'I6 superposed on portion 14, and a further similarand smaller portion 'I8 superposed on portion 16. The pin plate iscompleted by a positioning portion 80 placed at the forward end ofportion I8, The ready positioning of the'pins is provided bysemi-circular cut-out portions 82 at the rear end of portions 14 to 80,inclusive, as is clearly apparent from Fig. 4.

From the preceding detailed description it is apparent the pin plateprovides a set-up of the pins that is arcuate in the direction of travelof the ball and that the ball will strike all the pins in a limitedportion of their length, i. e., where the pin recedes downwardly andcentrally. The various positions of the ball as it strikes the pins isthus illustrated in Fig. 3, where the ball has been indicated in phantomat various positions.

The game apparatus described above may be supported not only upon anassociated support, but also upon a table as illustrated in Fig. 2. Inthis modification the legs have been omitted and the tray II] has beenillustrated as supported upon a table 84. In this modification only sixpins have been illustrated, thus illustrating the fact thatfmyrinvention-is vsusceptible 'of modification."y In i both i modifications thesupporting post' befused-*for the support54. If the support 54 isportals likely to-cause `the ball- I51to spring-upwardlywhe'n itjisyreleased. This would be a decided;V disadvantage-as it would cause theballl to strikefthepinsfan upward glancing blow; This inA-turnwouldcause the ball to bounce over some of thefpins. Some cautionshould 'beiexercisedin determination of thefsize lof the ball. The ballshouldnot be too large as the Ygame would be made too easy. I have foundthat a ball of the w arrangementis thatitpermits the use of a heavl,

ier ball'andmakes the game even more similar'to regulation bowling.

Similar `reference characters have been utilized to indicate'parts thatare practically the same as those, in the modification illustrad inFigs. 1v, 3 and4l Referring now more particularly to Fig. 5, it may beseen that the supporting tray 28 has been lengthened somewhat and thatit has been provided with side walls 84 (only one of which is shown)extending upwardly and rearwardly from the front wall 85 of the cabinetto the top panel 36. The purpose of this side wall, which may be'incorporated in the previously described modifications, is to preventthe ball from swinging sidewards after it strikes the pins. It alsoperforms the additional function of preventing the pins lfrom fallingolf the horizontal support.

Another advantage of the modification now being described,'is that theball retaining pocket may be made much smaller or eliminated entirely ifdesired. However, it is preferable to provide the device with a smallball retaining pocket. The baille 86 is made of the same material as thebaille 4I! of the previously described modifications and is secured atits upper end to the top by a fastening strip 42. At its lower vend thebaille is secured to a crossbar 88 extending between and attached to theside panels 84 by looping it around the bar as clearly indicated in theligure. The length of the baille is slightly greater than the straightline distance between the upper front edge of the cabinet and thecrossbar so as to define a pocket located below the baille and thenormal position of the ball for receiving the latter, the pocket in thiscase being indicated by reference numeral 90. It may be seen from thegure that the crossbar 88 is located relatively near to the horizontalsupport 28 in order that the ball may first strike the baille 86 andthereafter drop into the pocket 90.

The pin plate indicated in this modification by reference numeral 92 issubstantially the same in construction as the previously described pinplate 'I0 with exception of the fact that the front I4hasibeenillustrated asslanting forward. -This y cc` nstructionl enablesa shorter pieceof tubing-'to end has =be'enimade somewhat longer asindicated by reference numeral 94. The reason for this is to provide aconstruction Vwhereby the ball is adapted `to move past the front wall85 without striking it. y

In utilizing 'the apparatus of my invention, the ballis iirst graspedand brought? into substantiallylthe position shown in solid 'linesfinFig. l'. The player then throws it with some force toward the pins.Theidea is',just as in bowling, to strike thenpins inthe pockets formedby the headv pin and eithery of `the-two pinsfin` the second row. Whenthe ballstrikes the rst pin, it is deflected somewhat and it strikesvthe second row and. from there it goes pastthe succeeding rows.Byarranging the ball so that it is Ylocated substantiallyu inthepositiony shown in Fig; 3 when freely suspended andfbyarrangingthepins upon a ypin plate such 'asthat described above, all of the pins areadapted to be struck slightly belowv the maximum diameter portion ofthehead, and the ballis prevented frombouncing upwardlyywhen it strikesany particular pin. Consequently, the ball moves through jthe successiverows of pins j ust as woulda ball that is rolleddown an alley.

After the` ball Ahas passed the last rowof pins,

rcY

lt *movesjtoward' the baiiief and Awhen it reaches a position veryAnear'the bailleA or strikes the Vbafe' ile, the sliding connection ofthe chain permitsthe ballto Vslide. away from theY front end of thesupport-54'. When the ball strikes `thebaille, itsV forward movement isterminated andthe sliding connection permits the ball to drop into thepocket 46 formed by'thebaiile'. kThe .combined baille' and ballretainer'thus prevent theball from rebounding toward the pins' afterithas' passed the last row.

The apparatus of the modication illustrated in Fig. 5 is adapted to beutilized in substantially the same way as that just described. The onlydifference between it and the other is that the ball is positioned belowthe maximum diameter portions of the bodies of the pins when freelysuspended, so that when the ball is thrown at the pins, it strikes themslightly below the maximum diameter portion of the body. It may be seentherefore that the principles involved are identical in the twomodifications of ball and pin arrangements.

It should be apparent that the baffle and the ball support may be madeof materials other than those specifically described herein and that thekparticular forms and 'shapes thereof may be What I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Game apparatus including in combination a platform, a plurality ofpins adapted to be set up on said platform, a. ball flexibly supportedabove the platform in such manner that it may be thrown at and isadapted to strike the pins set up on the platform, a baille locatedbehind the platform and against which the ball is adapted to strikeafter passing beyond the pins thereon,

a ball retaining Vpocket interposed between thev baille and platform,and a ball support comprising a generally inclined track above theplatform and pocket and having a sharp droprover the pocket whereby theball drops into the pocket and is prevented by the forward edge of thepocket from rebounding against pins remaining on the platform.

2. Game apparatus including in combination a platform, a plurality ofpins adapted to Vbe set up on said platform, said pins having portionsreceding downwardly and centrally thereof, a ball exibly supported abovevthe platform in such manner that it may be thrown at and is adapted tostrike the pins set up on the platform, said platform being constructedtojsupport the pins. at different elevations corresponding approximatelyto the line of travel taken by the ball as it is thrown at the pins, abaille located behind the platform and against which the ballis adaptedto strike after passing beyond the pins thereon, a ball retaining pocketinterposed between the baille and platform, a ball support comprising agenerally inclined track above the platform and pocket and having asharp drop over the pocket whereby the ball drops into the pocket and is`prevented by the forward edge of the'pocket from rebounding againstpinsremaining on the platform, and a' flexible connection between .the trackand ball of such length that the ball is adapted to strike eachv pin atsaid downwardly and centrally receding portion. 1

3. Game apparatus including in `combination Va platform, a pluralityof-.pins adapted to beset up on said platform, said platformcomprisingapluralityrof thicknesses of material of different areas andsimilar shape attached together with areas of different thicknesses toform a unitary structure, said structures being provided with cut-awayportions along portions of their nonaligned edges to receive andposition the pins, a ball flexibly supported above the platform in suchmanner that it may be thrown at and is adapted to strike the pins set upon the platform, a baffle located behind the platform and against whichthe ball is adapted to strike after passing beyond the pins thereon, aball retaining pocket interposed between the baille and platform, and aball support comprising a generally inclined track above the platformand pocket and having a sharp drop over the pocket whereby the balldrops into the pocket and is prevented by the forward edge of the pocketfrom rebounding against pins remaining on the platform'.

4. Game apparatus including in combination a platform, a plurality ofpins adapted to 'be set up on said platform, a ball flexibly supportedabove the platform in such manner that it may be thrown at and isadapted to strike the pins set up on the platform, a baille locatedbehind `the platform andagainst which the ball is adapted to strikeafter passing'beyond the pins thereon, a ball retaining pocketinterposed between the baille and platform, said baille and pocket beingformed by a single flexible transverse curtain, and a ball supportcomprising a generally inclined track above theplatform and pocket andhaving a sharp drop over the pocket whereby the ball drops into thepocket and is .prevented by the forward vedge of' vthe pocket fromrebounding against pins remaining on the platform.

\ ISAAC H. ATHEY.

